A couple who were caught with more than 30 cannabis plants growing in their house have been handed suspended prison sentences.
45-year-old Amber Marshall of Newport Road in Ventnor and 46-year-old Jason Kennett of Victoria Avenue in Shanklin appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court last Friday (4th July) having previously admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and being concerned in the production of cannabis.
Tim Devlin, prosecuting for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court that on 25th April 2023, Police stopped the pair who were driving in a Peugeot. Officers noticed 2 cannabis plants in the rear of the vehicle.
Having obtained the permissions, a search of the former couple’s address was conducted in which a total of 31 cannabis plants were located, 21 in the loft and 10 in a summer house.
The court heard how texts on Kennett’s phone were ‘indicative of drug supply’.
Defending, Jonathan Underhill told the court that his clients had admitted the offences on a full-facts basis and that since the period of offending, they have both stayed out of trouble.
Sentencing the pair, Judge James Newton-Price said that the value of the seized drugs was between £11,000 – £33,000.
In handing down his sentence he told Marshall that he didn’t agree with her attempts to ‘minimise her role in the operation’ adding that she had previously admitted growing and supplying to her friends.
Judge Newton-Price handed Kennett – who was appearing at court on his 46th birthday – a 16-month sentence suspended for 2 years. Marshall was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 2 years also.
Kennett – who has 22 convictions on his record – was fined £500 and ordered to complete 18 rehabilitation days whilst Marshall was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation days.
Hardly The Chelsea Flower Show
what is happening to this island, it use to
be a nice safe place, everywhere you go on the
island you can smell this sh*t!
Do they get to keep any profit from their drug dealing. There is no mention of a proceeds of crime confiscation order.
I guess they won’t be paying tax on the profits already made either ?
There is no wonder crime is rife in the UK , it seems that crime does pay ?
Those who are honest and work and pay their taxes are seemingly disadvantaged in society these days.
The government need to beef up the system to allow sentences to be increased to actually deter crime and to punish those who are not deterred much more severely.
Thos government won’t do a bloody thing.The guy in so called control is losing control and of course he is the one who let Savile go. Do you expect anything to get done.
Another couple who have got away with it, the police must be so frustrated. Never mind the coroners court is not fit for purpose, it looks like the magistrates court is likewise.
I live in what used to be called “Sheltered housing” which was for the elderly. Now the council are using it as a dumping ground for drunks, druggies and the like. Drugs are rife and the buggers get away with it.
That’s awful. These wretched people are the scourge of society.